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Psychology is the scientific study of behavior. Professional psychologists may be researchers investigating behavior and/or practitioners, applying their knowledge and skills to individual and social problems.

The Psychology Department offers several options for students. These include a Bachelor of Arts major, a Bachelor of Science major, and a minor.

Students planning to pursue a career in which a background in psychology is useful, such as business, communications, or social services, will find the B.A. degree to be an appropriate track. These students are encouraged to pursue experiences through part-time work or internships in their area of interest. Students interested in pursuing professional careers in psychology, social work, or other professional fields such as law will need to attend graduate school and obtain an advanced degree. These students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor for advice on whether the B.A. or B.S. degree is most appropriate to meet their long-term goals. The B.S. degree is recommended for students planning professional careers in such fields as medicine, dentistry, and physical therapy. All students should consult regularly with their faculty advisor in planning a program of study that is consistent with their future academic and career goals. All students are encouraged to utilize the career resources available in the Department of Psychology, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the University to learn about opportunities and prepare strategies to meet their goals. To declare a major or minor, please visit 415 Huntington Hall to speak with an available adviser.

Petitions

Students interested in taking a psychology class at another institution and transferring it to Syracuse University to count toward either the major or minor must complete a petition form (downloadable from the department web site) and bring it and a syllabus for the course to the Advising Office (415 Huntington) for approval prior to enrolling in the course. Petitions may take up to two weeks for review. Winter intersession classes are generally not accepted as transfer credit. Students should plan their program of study in consultation with their academic advisor in order to insure timely completion of degree requirements No more than three hours of experience credit (PSY 270 or PSY 470) may be applied toward the minimum number of hours required for the major.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Identify the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends relevant to the foundational domains of psychology, including cognitive, social, clinical, and developmental bases of behavior

2. Formulate testable research hypotheses, design a simple study to test the hypothesis, and apply appropriate statistical tests to answer basic research questions relevant to the field of psychology

3. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the APA ethical guidelines and their applications in the context of conducting psychological research

4. Employ the effective use of written communication in the psychological sciences. Employ the effective use of oral communication in the psychological sciences

5. Demonstrate the ability to effectively work in the field of psychology through involvement in faculty mentored research, community based internships, and independent study

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Degree

The B.A. requires a minimum of 30 credits in psychology (PSY) courses, 18 of which must be numbered 300 or above. Students must earn a grade point average of at least a 2.0 in all upper-division Psychology courses taken at Syracuse University and counted towards the completion of the major (see MySlice for the GPA calculator). Students must begin by taking PSY 205 Foundations of Human Behavior (or the Honors equivalent, PSY 209). PSY 205 (or PSY 209) is a prerequisite for all other psychology courses. All majors also must complete PSY 313 Introduction to Research Methodology and are encouraged to complete this course in addition to the required statistics sequence as soon as possible. Majors must satisfy a two semester statistics sequence from the list below which also satisfies the quantitative skills requirement of the Liberal Arts Core:

Alternative Math Sequence #4

Psychology Area Requirements and Electives

One 3-credit course must be completed in each of the four areas of psychology listed below. A single course may be used to satisfy requirements in only one area. Students may petition to have psychology (i.e., PSY) courses not listed in the four areas (e.g., PSY 400) count as completing a group requirement. Please note some courses are offered infrequently (COI) which are included in the lists below:

Psychology Electives

The B.A. student selects additional Psychology (PSY) electives from the areas above to achieve the minimum of 30 credits. MAT courses taken to complete the statistics requirement do not count toward the 30 credit minimum.